Not a Camouflaged Soul

Author: Jon Wellman

  • Virtual Prayer Tour of Wellman Manor

    I often like to drift to sleep in prayer. I heard the evangelist in my church’s prayer revival last week say that falling asleep while praying was OK: how better to fall sleep than in the arms of Jesus? While no substitute for my usual prayer time, I like to go over the day in prayer in my last conscious moments.

    I’m not sure why I did this. Last night, I started praying, and I mentally walked through my house, thanking God for everything I “saw.” It took a while! Not long into my “virtual tour,” I was overwhelmed by how blessed I really am! I felt like I just wanted God to know that, as best I am able, I don’t want to take anything for granted.

    In Mark 6, Jesus told His disciples not to focus on taking things with them for their journey. He wanted them to rely on His providence. Though we all have more to our names than a one tunic, a staff, and sandals, we also should not focus on what God has NOT provided. He has provided much!

    Above all, He provided Jesus Christ, the ultimate provision for whatever we face!

    I forget who said it, but it’s true: you never see a U-Haul attached to a hearse. God gives us everything we need to serve Him and to give Him glory. May we always be thankful.

    Try a “tour” of your own! It will open your eyes.

  • Hate-Sin Legislation

    I have been closely watching the “hate-crimes” legislation debate in the House Judiciary Committee. This legislation is supposed to receive a vote tomorrow. According to OneNewsNow, this legislation “would add gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability to the list of protected categories under federal hate crimes law.” If this passes, it could make true Christianity very difficult.

    That sounds overly dramatic. It isn’t. In II Timothy 4, Paul told Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

    Telling the truth about homosexuality may soon be out of season.

    Proclaiming the Bible’s stance (and, therefore, God’s stance) on homosexuality could be considered hate speech of a threatening nature. This is not limited to preachers, just as what Paul said to Timothy is not limited to preachers.

    We as Christians are obligated to be salt and light into this dying world. Especially if it is inconvenient. There are countries in this world where martyrdom and persecution are common. Why could that NOT happen in America? America continues to make it clear that a large portion of it wants nothing to do with God.

    Evangelical Christianity has been labeled in some segments of the media to be filled with hate towards homosexuals and homosexuality. This belief could not be further from the truth. A true Christian loves unbelievers, and wants to see all people accept Christ and receive the life change that only Jesus can give.

    But there is hate involved concerning sin.

     God hates it.

    But here’s the thing…

    God hates gay and straight sin.

    God hates black sin.

    White sin.

    Asian sin.

    Latino sin.

    Man sin.

    Woman sin.

    All sin.

    But in His mercy he provided His Son. Jesus’ blood was spilt for all. The salvation that His blood provided is available to all. All we have to do is trust in Him as our Savior. That is what we proclaim.

    The sins that I commit every day are just as heinous as any sin a gay man or woman could commit. All I know is that, on July 5th, 1981, I accepted Christ as my Savior. I accepted atonement for my sin. I allowed it to pay my sin debt. I welcome Christ’s return. And I boldly proclaim what His Word says.

    Christians, we may one day face a time when a blog like this could lead to a prison sentence. Psalm 56:11 says, “in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” How many Christians have been martyred and persecuted for the cause of Christ? Nothing that can be done to us on this earth compares to Christ’s death on the cross: the separation from the Father and the agony of His physical death make anything this world could dish out child’s play.

    This world is not my home.

    If you are reading this and are not saved, you need to accept Christ today. Right now. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. You don’t have to understand everything in the Bible. You just have to believe that Jesus loves you. He died on a cross for your sins. He rose from the dead three days later. He is coming back soon. Accept the free gift of salvation He offers to you now, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

  • Um…Uh…Well…

    Have you ever drawn a blank? I am right now.

    I have endeavored to be better about writing my blog, but I find myself searching for topics at times. I am not a preacher, so I can’t talk about the direction of my sermon study. I have a fruitful devotional life, but that shouldn’t always be accessible publicly. I am a meager music minister. As Ray Stevens used to say, “I just play my little piano, sing my little songs.” (By the way, anybody out there that gets that reference gets a cookie. Bonus points if you can name the song, or even just its topic. Triple word score if you can sing any part of it.)

    It’s discouraging to think that I am so un-interesting that I have nothing with which to fill a couple of virtual lines in cyberspace. I read the blog of Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church the other day, and he said that he doesn’t Twitter because his life would amount to drink one Diet Coke after another. I refuse to believe that, but is that what has happened to me?

    Even as I type this, I am thinking how truly blessed I am! After all, this blog could be filled with how miserable I am (believe me, I’ve seen those out there). It could be outlining my failing health, the disintegration of my family, the collapse of my ministry, my ongoing struggle with depression, or any number of other maladies that are (unfortunately) common today.

    Life is awesome! My Savior is amazing! He died for me so that I might live eternally! He is coming soon! I love my family! I love my ministry! I get to tell others about Him!

    If I have to have writer’s block every now and then to reaffirm who He is, I’ll take it.